Bishop Bogaio reminded the Priest-elect that Priesthood is “a call to be a mat for the weary and shade for those burned by the sun of life,” urging him to live a life marked by compassion and mercy.
“Many are tired. You must give them the mat. Many are burned. You must be their shade,” the Priest-elect was told.
The Mozambican member of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) reflected the charism of the Somascan Order, founded by St. Jerome Emiliani, saying, “This charism demands a simple, welcoming, and available life. As your constitution says, your religious house should be open especially to the little ones and the poor. Your mission is to educate in faith, serve with charity, and promote the human person in a holistic way. Wherever there is an orphan, there a Somascan must be. And you must be there.”
“Carry in yourself the pains of the people, pray for them, comfort them, guide them. It is not your will that matters, but what God wants from you for the good of others,” he said.
Bishop Bogaio went on to underscore the importance of prayer in the Priestly life, saying, “Prayer is the Priest’s breath. Without it, ministry becomes dry and heavy. Before acting, the priest must learn to listen like Mary at the feet of Jesus. Serve like Martha, yes, but first, listen like Mary. Never sacrifice the altar of prayer for the altar of haste. If you're praying, pray. The rest can wait. If time is short, give priority to God.”
“Love your religious community. Live humbly and truthfully with your brothers. Make decisions in communion, never alone. Never abandon the poor. Be a father to orphans, a guide to youth, a comforter to the afflicted. And never forget your roots, your home parish that watched you grow and now accompanies you with love,” the Mozambican Catholic Bishop said.
He emphasized that Priesthood is “not just about administering sacraments”, adding “You are not ordained merely to celebrate Mass or hear confessions. That is part of it, but your mission is broader. To be a living presence of Christ, servant of the poor, educator in faith, and missionary of hope.”
The Bishop reminded the Priest-elect that his Priesthood is “born from the cross” and lives by hope.
“As Pope Benedict XVI once said, the Priest must continually be reborn for the people. Your priesthood must be leaven of compassion, broken bread for the youth, hope for the excluded. The people need you. And you need the people. The people sustain the priest through their faith,” Bishop Bogaio said.
João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate.
